Morning Report for Friday 16 May 2014

8:55 AM.Let's have a chat to our Canberra correspondent Kerry-Anne Walsh. Audio

8:49 AM.Ever spotted a slime mould? A group of smuts? What about a puffball? Audio

8:46 AM.A leader of Wellington iwi Te Atiawa says the tribe would reconsider its relationship with Parliament if it drastically changed protocol to allow women to speak in powhiri; The Mana Party is… Read more Audio

8:40 AM.Back now to the budget and with us are lecturer in Politics at the University of Otago, Bryce Edwards and Herald columnist Fran O'Sullivan. Audio

8:36 AM.A public square in downtown Auckland could be sold for commercial development after councillors approved the idea in principle. Audio

8:32 AM.A brief update of movements in the financial sector. Audio

8:28 AM.Gender segregated powhiri at Parliament are being reviewed after complaints from some female MPs that the tikanga belittles their status. Audio

8:24 AM.Fresh questions are being asked about an intrusive piece of spyware called X-Keyscore. Audio

8:19 AM.Science and research received a boost in the budget yesterday, with Bill English announcing 53-million-dollars to establish three new Centres of Research Excellence, to bring the total to 10. Audio

8:13 AM.The current New Zealander of the Year, Kaitaia GP Lance O'Sullivan, set up a low-cost health clinic, Te Kohanga Whakaora (The Nest of Wellness), which offers flexible forms of payment and walk-in… Read more Audio

8:10 AM.One of the big surprises in yesterday's budget was the announcement that the government will start picking up the tab for doctors' visits and prescriptions for children under 13. Audio

8:07 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

7:55 AM.For businesses, it was the construction industry, the start-up companies, and the firms with a strong research and development focus, that were the big winners. Audio

7:50 AM.Sometimes violent protests have gripped Turkey as the country comes to terms with the loss of more than 280 miners following a coal mine explosion. Audio

7:47 AM.An apology from Radio New Zealand to Winston Peters. Audio

7:43 AM.Former Black Cap Lou Vincent has rocked the cricket world with his revelations of alleged match-fixing. Audio

7:36 AM.New revelations from Edward Snowden suggest that New Zealand spies have been trained how to do mass survellance. Audio

7:28 AM.For more analysis on the budget with us is our Political Editor, Brent Edwards and Economics Correspondent, Patrick Omeara. Audio

7:23 AM.Labour's finance spokesperson David Parker is with us. Audio

7:16 AM.The Finance Minister Bill English rejects the criticisms of the housing announcements, saying low interest rates and more supply are the key. Audio

7:10 AM.Back in the black and 500 million dollars worth of sweeteners for families sums up the Government's election year Budget. Audio

7:07 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:58 AM.The three major indices on Wall Street have all tumbled this morning, following a sell off in smaller companies and disappointing results from the world's biggest retailer, Wal-Mart. Audio

6:56 AM.Briscoe Group is planning a little retail therapy of its own, eyeing up a major acquisition this year as it seeks to expand its bricks and mortar stores and online presence. Audio

6:54 AM.Ryman Healthcare plans to accelerate the rate at which it builds new villages from 2017. Audio

6:50 AM.The publisher of the magazine and website, Building Guide, Mark Graham, says building costs in New Zealand are among the highest in the world, and it's part of the Government's pattern of trying to… Read more Audio

6:49 AM.The well foreshadowed tax breaks for start-ups, and research and development companies were also confirmed in yesterday's budget. Audio

6:48 AM.The chief executive of Deloitte says the 2014 Budget signals the economy has turned a corner and it provides businesses with a greater degree of certainty. Audio

6:41 AM.A former Green Party MP says the Prime Minister should apologise to the Brazilian President because New Zealand spies were told about the interception of her calls, texts and emails. Audio

6:37 AM.Families are the main beneficiaries of this year's Budget, but schools are the focus of the single most expensive initiative. Audio

6:26 AM.The Mana Party is describing the Budget is worthless for Maori; Labour's Maori Affairs spokesperson, Nanaia Mahuta, believes the government's move to continue funding the Maori Centre of Research… Read more Audio

6:23 AM.A Scottish study says young rugby players should have their neck strength tested before being allowed to play in the front row. Audio

6:20 AM.News from the rural and farming sector. Audio

6:14 AM.The latest from the Pacific region. Audio

6:09 AM.After seven years of spiralling deficits, yesterday's budget promised a 372 million dollar surplus next year. Audio

6:06 AM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:00 AM.Back in the black and 500 million dollars worth of sweeteners for families in the government's election year Budget . The opposition says the government has failed to look at the wider picture and new… Read more Audio